BHOPAL MARCH 21: Property worth more than Rs 10 lakh was reportedly
gutted and more than 5000 people were rendered homeless following a massive fire which
broke out at Atal Ayub Nagar on Wednesday afternoon. More than 30 fire fighters were
deployed for controlling the wild fire which engulfed nearly 125 shanties and reduced them
to ashes.

The first distress call came to the police control room around 3.10pm about
the blazing fire which struck bushes bushes besides the hutments adjacent to the Union
Carbide factory but was controlled by the timely arrival of fire brigades.

High winds spread the fire towards the shanties of Atal Ayub Nagar and the entire slum
was ablaze when the first firefighter made entry into the settlement.

District officials, police, municipal corporation staff and public struggled endlessly
to control the high rising flames engulfing everything coming in its way. The aggrieved
families panicked trying to save their family members and friends. The trauma situation
continued for almost two hours before the situation could be controlled at around 5pm.

Although no loss of life has been reported in the incident but loss of property is
estimated to be high. District officials are trying to assess the losses of residents of
the illegal settlement.

The efforts of the district administration continued till late in the evening when the
officials were seen distributing relief material to the residents who lost their household
property and were left in a single dress asset on them.

The district officials informed that the fire started through some sort of accident
leading to the dry bushes catching fire. The high winds in the area added fuel to fire and
the entire open area was burnt along with the slums of Atal Ayub Nagar.